Eastern Washington University EWU Digital Commons Eastern Washington University Digital History Student Newspapers Collections 4-8-2015 Easterner, Vol. 66, No. 22, April 8, 2015 Associated Students of Eastern Washington University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.ewu.edu/student_newspapers Recommended Citation Associated Students of Eastern Washington University, "Easterner, Vol. 66, No. 22, April 8, 2015" (2015). Student Newspapers. 885. https://dc.ewu.edu/student_newspapers/885 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Eastern Washington University Digital History Collections at EWU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Newspapers by an authorized administrator of EWU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EASTERNERONLINE.COM EST. 1916 APRIL 8, 2015 VOLUME 66, ISSUE 22 FIRST ROBOTS TAKE OVER REESE COUrt STA tax ballot can improve bus routes STA Proposition No. 1 promises improved bus services, extended hours in Spokane and Cheney By Katie Dunn staff writer Spokane Transit Au- thority is looking to make changes to their bus system through Proposition No. 1 on the April 28 ballot. According to the ballot, the purpose of the propo- sition is to improve and maintain the transit system by extending services and hours for popular routes, expanding to new areas, exploring a variety of new routes and enhancing the transit center through gen- eral improvements. Photo by Laura Lango If the proposition is ap- The Kent KM Royals team prepare for the start of a competition round at the FIRST Robotics Pacific Northwest District Championship on April 1. proved, it would imple- ment an increase in sales and use tax by one percent. Over 60 Pacific Northwest teams battle to world championship According to the ballot, this tax would expire Dec. 31, 2025. By Brandon Cline and has strict rules, time limits and Everyone who fre- staff reporter limited resources. Teams consist of quently rides the STA bus 25 or more members, with profes- system will be affected Basketball season is over, sional volunteers acting as mentors whether or not the propo- but Reese Court was packed last to the students. $25 million worth of sition passes. week as the Pacific Northwest college scholarships are distributed For Inspiration and Recogni- to members of the FRC every year tion of Science and Technology around the United States. STA BALLOT-PAGE 2 (FIRST) Robotics 2015 District While scholarship opportuni- Championships were held from ties are a financial benefit for in- April 1-4. volvement in FIRST, McCallum Sixty-four teams from high said there are many other reasons schools around Washington why a student should be involved Harvey plans and Oregon converged at EWU, in the program. where 31 teams advanced to the “A lot of FIRST teams are to train for World Championships, to be also very focused on leadership held in St. Louis, Missouri. development and obviously the NBA “EWU has been a great part- teamwork,” said McCallum. ner for us “Many of these teams oper- for many ONLINE: ate like small businesses. They By Sam Deal & Fetlew years. They View a slideshow have smaller groups of students Gebreziabher have host- of the event at inside a team that are focused for the easterner ed several easterneronline.com. on the business side of it, public competi- relations side of it, finance bud- tions in the previous years, and get, as well as coding, program- The nation’s leading we made the decision that this ming and fabricating.” scorer has taken his last year we wanted the champion- In the championship match shot at Reese Court. ship to be held at EWU,” said on April 4, the Blue Alliance, con- EWU junior guard Ty- Erin McCallum, president of sisting of Raisbeck Aviation High ler Harvey announced Washington FIRST Robotics. School (Team #1983), Crescent Val- Wednesday that he would Attendance at Reese Court ley High School (Team #955) and Photo by Laura Lango be forgoing his senior year spilled into the upper-deck, Glacier Peak High School (Team of eligibility to pursue a with a raucous atmosphere for #2930), edged out the Red Alliance [Eastern has] hosted several competitions career in the NBA. all four days. Students, parents in the game Recycle Rush, winning in the previous years, and we made the “I had a chance to go and fans alike were dressed in the first two matches in the best-of- decision that this year we wanted the home for a week talk to my gear representing teams that three series. championship to be held at EWU. coach and my family and were competing. A pit in the Recycle Rush is the FRC’s game “ you know everything that center of the arena held all of for the 2015 season, with the robots has happened this year, we the action, where 128 qualifi- compiling a stack of up to six plas- Erin McCallum just felt like it was the right cation matches and 16 playoff tic storage containers, which when President, Washington FIRST Robotics time to make that next step matches took place. capped off with a recycle bin, earns in life,” said Harvey. “It was Sixty-four of the 154 FRC the team bonus points. A team definitely not an easy deci- (FIRST Robotics Competition) earns points by pushing the stack The Rookie All-Star Award berths determined by average sion by all means, at all.” teams from 10 districts in Washing- of containers to a designated area, went to Snohomish High School team score. Harvey, who has not ton and Oregon advanced through where they drop off their haul and (Team #5495), earning them a Qualifying for the World signed an agent, said he prior qualifying to earn a chance to return to collect more containers berth in the World Champion- Championships means more would be leaving Cheney advance to the World Champion- before time runs out. ships, which takes place April expenses for each team, which and head home where he ships. There are four different pro- Awards such as the Gracious 22-25. All three teams in the Blue is where sponsors play a large will begin the preparations grams in FIRST, based on age and Professionals Award, the Indus- Alliance earned an automatic role in FIRST. McCallum said for the NBA draft which grade level, and the FRC is the most trial Design Award, the Industrial spot in the World Champion- funding for a team can cost up takes place on June 25. advanced program, open to all high Safety Award, the Innovation In ships as well. In all, there were to $50,000 a year. Companies school students. Robotics Award and the Excellence nine automatic berths to the According to the FIRST website, In Engineering Award were hand- World Championships based ROBOTICS-PAGE 5 HARVEY-PAGE 8 FRC is the varsity sport for the mind ed out after the competition. on awards won and 22 at-large INSIDE: NEWS PAGE 2 • EAGLE LIFE PAGE 3 • COMMUNITY PAGE 5 • OPINION PAGE 6 • SPORTS PAGE 7 Upcoming Events: April 9: Young Professionals April 15: The Roots of Music: Review: Lamar’s “To Network: Leadership, Man- Explore Earth’s Soundscapes Pimp a Butterfly” agement, Entrepreneurship. with George Halekas will be April 8-9: Grad Finale. Join the network in April at the presented at 12 p.m. in Showal- Kendrick Lamar’s third Josten’s will be at the EWU Cheney McKinstry Innovation Center ter 109. Sponsored by the EWU studio album takes an Bookstore from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. to starting at 5:30 p.m. to converse Honors Program, biologist eerie look at his life, his help seniors prepare for graduation. with a diverse panel of manag- George Halekas will elaborate fame and how it affected ers and leaders from various on nature, the human spirit, his reputation, page 3 What to expect: businesses. Sponsored by Nu- music and how it all weaves Josten’s will have a class ring show- merica Credit Union. together within ecology. Community case, professional photos by North- As always, the Police Beat ern Exposures Photography, 20 April 11: Admitted Student April 16-18: National Confer- will have you questioning percent off EWU diploma frames, Day: Students and families can ence on Undergraduate Re- whether your drunken as well as signing the EWU gradua- attend special sessions starting search (NCUR) will be in the police visit made it into tion banner. at 8:30 a.m. in Showalter Hall. URC starting at noon. print, page 5 Photo by Gozamos on Flickr PAGE 2 NEWS APRIL 8, 2015 @EasternerNews Still haven’t found a summer internship? Get in touch with EWU Career Services. STA: Otterstrom said the Monday CONTINUED FROM FRONT through Saturday service from downtown Spokane would be If the ballot is rejected, the extended from 10:35 to 11:20 STA Board of Directors may con- p.m., allowing for students to sider reducing services in 2017, catch a late movie or to attend a according to the information on late-night event. the ballot released by STA. “It's not just for students, it's Karl Otterstrom, director of all routes, it's across the system planning for STA, said the big is- and I think who it really helps sue for bus routes like the one be- are people who work later tween Cheney and Spokane is not shifts downtown, not just peo- so much frequency but capacity. ple going to events,” said Otter- Otterstrom said STA wants strom. “And that will definitely to buy double-decker buses, help attract more riders to use which would increase seating the bus service, not just to get to from 60 to 80.